Interchangeable type assemblage for stamp devices



March 17,1959 w. K. MUNSON 2,877,707

INTERCHANGEABLE TYPE -ASSEMBLAGE FOR STAMP DEVICES Filed Feb. 1, 1957 INVENTOR.

INTERCHANGEABLE TYPE ASSEMBLAGE FOR STAMP DEVICES Whitney K. Munson, Red Bank, N J.

Application February 1, 1957, Serial No. 637,812

13 Claims. (Cl. 101-380) This invention relates to stamp devices employing individual type characters which are adapted to be arranged upon type mounting bars in forming a type assemblage. More particularly, the invention deals with a suitably supported casing, including means for assembling, alining and retaining the type assemblage units, comprising the bars with the type thereon, against displacement from the casing and the support to which the casing is secured.

Still more particularly, the invention deals with a device of the character described, wherein yieldable means is provided between the casing and the supporting body of the device for free movement of the casing, together with the type units assembled therewith in the use of the stamp.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a device made according to my invention, with parts of the construction broken away and in section.

Fig. 2 is a partial and broken section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2, omitting part of the background showing; and

Fig. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale and showing only a small portion of the section.

In the drawing, represents a supporting body which, in the production of hand stamps, will include a handle portion 11 suitably fixed, as by a screw or other fastener, to one surface of the body substantially centrally thereof.

The body it) is generally channel-shaped in crosssectional form, the channel extending the full length of the body, the channel being clearly illustrated at 13 in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The upper outer surfaces of the side walls of the body 10 are preferably bevelled, as seen at 14 in said figure. Suitably fixed in the channel 13 on the bottom wall thereof is yieldable means in the form of a foam rubber or other pad 15, which terminates short of the ends of the channel 13, as indicated at 16, to provide spaces beyond the pad within the channel 13, one of these spaces being indicated at 17 in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Suitably fixed to the upper surface of the pad is an elongated shallow casing 18. At this time, it is pointed out that, in securing the pad 15 to the body 10 and casing 18, suitable adhesive or other securing means can be employed and no attempt is shown to illustrate such means.

The casing 18 is defined by side walls 19 which extend above the upper ends of the side walls of the body 10, as clearly noted in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The casing also includes end walls 20. Upper ends of the end walls 20 terminate below the upper ends of the side walls 19 and have a plurality of sockets 21 therein, which are half- Patented Mar. 17, 1959 round in cross-sectional form. For purposes of description, these sockets will be referred to as bar alining and supporting sockets. The sockets 21 are adapted to snugly receive end portions of the type mounting bars 22. The bars 22 are each half round in cross-sectional form, as clearly noted in Fig. 4 of the drawing, and are adapted to fit in the lower halves of circular bores or chambers 23 in each of the type characters 24 employed. With most forms of construction, the type characters are fashioned from moulded yieldable material, such for example as rubber, and it will be noted that the chambers 23 are disposed centrally between opposed sides 25 of the characters 24 and also substantially centrally between the upper type face 26 and the lower bearing face 27 of the characters, these bearing faces seating upon the bottom wall 23 of the casing when the type bar assemblages or units are mounted and retained in the casing.

Considering Fig. 1 of the drawing, it will be noted that the upper flat surfaces at the righthand end portion of the bars 22 have preferably a red marking 22 applied thereto. This or some other suitable marking is utilized to indicate to the operator that this end portion of the rod is grasped in one hand, while the type characters 24 are threaded onto the rod by movement over the other or lefthand end portion of the rod, as noted in Fig. 1. The purpose of this is to facilitate the simple assemblage of type characters in spelling out words, names or symbols in the proper manner so that, in the printing operation, or, in other words, when the device, as shown in Fig. 1 is inverted for a printing operation, the beginning of each word, name or the like will start from the left. It will be understood that the casing 18 will have corresponding markings, not shown, at the same or righthand end portion thereof, so that the operator, in assembling the bars with the casing, will know what end portion of the bars to position at the righthand end of the casing, as it is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

Before assembling the units in the casing, the grouped type characters are properly positioned with respect to each other so that the resulting imprint, in the use of the stamp, will provide a predetermined arrangement.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, I have shown at 24 and 24" two groups of the type characters 24 arranged on the side bars only, the intermediate or central bar having no characters arranged thereon, at least in the present showing. This is simply to indicate that any number of the bar lines can be utilized in producing a predetermined stamp arrangement. In fact, in some instances, only a single line is used, in which event, the bar will be positioned centrally of the casing. At this time, it will be understood that devices of the type and kind under consideration can be made up of single or any multiple of bar units, depending upon the requirements of the user. In all instances, the size of the casing 18, as well as the supporting body 10, will be proportionately constructed.

In the assemblage of the bar type units with the casing, the end portions of the bars are simply placed in the sockets or recesses 21, after which, retaining or holddown spring clips 29 are employed and, as both clips are of the same construction, a detailed showing of only one of these clips is provided. Considering Fig. 2 of the drawing, it will appear that the clips 29 are of what might be termed modified U-shaped cross-sectional form and comprise a narrow upper hold-down plate 30 joining a longer bottom clip plate 31 in a rounded portion 32. The bottom plate 31 has an upwardly extending detent 33, which is adapted to tensionally pass into a detent socket 34 in the bottom wall 28 to frictionally retain the clip 29 against displacement. It will also appear that the top wall 30 joins the rounded portion 32 in an olfset angular flange portion 35, which overlies the end of the bars 22 retaining said bars against shifting movement longitudinally of the casing.

The top wall 30 of the clip bears downwardly and firmly upon the upper fiat surfaces of the bars 22, as clearly noted in Fig. 3 of the drawing; thus maintaining the horizontal alinement of the type characters in the casing, the longitudinal alinement of the bars being controlled by the sockets 21.

In this coupling engagement or, in other words, as the clips 29 are placed in position, the upper wall 30 is first brought into engagement with the upper fiat surfaces of the bars and, then, the bottom wall 31 is swung into position upon the lower surface of the casing and, in this operation, the downward pressure of the top wall 30 operates to slightly compress or yieldably force the lower surfaces 27 of the characters 24 upon the bottom wall 28 of the casing. In this manner, the characters are maintained in definite fixed position with respect to each other and to the casing when the stamp is in use. As and when it is desired to renew or replace any one of the bar type units, the end hold-down clips 29 are removed by simply inserting a side of the usual type tweezers employed in handling type in the channel formed behind the rounded portion 32 and force the clips 29 outwardly. After disengagement of the detents 33, the clips can be readily removed.

Considering Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing, it will appear that the top wall 30 of the clips extend between the side walls 19 of the casing 18, whereas, the bottom wall 31, having the same width as the top wall 30, is free of the side walls of the body 10, this being clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

By providing chambers of the cross-sectional form noted at 23 in Fig. 4 of the drawing, it will appear that the type characters above the mounting and hold-down bars 22 provide a free yielding and flexure of the exposed portion of each character and, particularly, the type impression diagrammatically indicated at 26 in Fig. 4 of the drawing to insure positive imprint upon the surface of each character in the use of the stamp.

With stamp devices of the kind defined, it is possible to quickly and easily construct any sort of predetermined stamp and to assemble the same in the casing and after assemblage to be assured of proper alinement and positioning in the casing.

By virtue of the arrangement of the yieldable pad 15 on the body and casing 18, the casing, in its entirety, is movable in the channel 13 and, in this movement, one end portion of the casing can be compressed a greater degree than the other, particularly if the stamp devices approach a surface with the type characters at an angular position with respect to the surface. However, the highly flexible pad 15 will automatically compensate for the irregular movement and apply the required pressure of all of the characters to the surface being imprinted. From another standpoint, it will appear that a stamp device can operate upon irregular surfaces in an effective manner by virtue of the move or less longitudinally limited floating characteristics of the casing within the supporting body.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A stamp device comprising a channelled body, a casing yieldably supported in the channel of said body, the casing including end walls at end portions of the body, upper edges of said end walls having alined supporting sockets, a type unit attachable and detachable with respect to the casing, said unit comprising an elongated bar, a plurality of type characters positioned on the bar, the bar ends seating in the sockets in the end walls of said casing in support of the unit in the casing with the type characters projecting beyond upper limits of the casing, and means deachably engaging the end portions of the casing and the bar supported thereon for retaining the bar unit in fixed position on the casing,

2. A stamp device comprising a channelled body, a casing yieldably supported in the channel of said body, the casing including end walls at end portions of the body, upper edges of said end walls having alined supporting sockets, a type unit attachable and detachable with respect to the casing, said unit comprising an elongated bar, a plurality of type characters positioned on the bar, the bar ends seating in the sockets in the end walls of said casing in support of the unit in the casing with the type characters projecting beyond upper limits of the casing, means detachably engaging the end portions of the casing and the bar supported thereon for retaining the bar unit in fixed position on the casing, and said last named means comprising members urging the bar unit downwardly in tensionally supporting inner surfaces of the type characters upon the bottom wall of the casing.

3. A stamp device comprising a channelled body, a casing yieldably supported in the channel of said body, the casing including end walls at end portions of the body, upper edges of said end walls having alined supporting sockets, a type unit attachable and detachable with respect to the casing, said unit comprising an elongated bar, a plurality of type characters positioned on the bar, the bar ends seating in the sockets in the end walls of said casing in support of the unit in the casing with the type characters projecting beyond upper limits of the casing, means detachably supporting the end portions of the casing and the bar supported thereon for retaining the bar unit in fixed position on the casing,

said last named means comprising members urging the bar unit downwardly in tensionally supporting inner surbar, the bar ends seating in the sockets in the end walls,

of said casing in support of the unit in the casing with the type characters projecting beyond upper limits of the casing, means detachably supporting the end portions of the casing and the bar supported thereon for retaining the bar unit in fixed position on the casing, said last named means comprising members urging the bar unit downwardly in tensionally supporting inner surfaces of the type characters upon the bottom wall of the casing,

the bar of said unit seating in and partially filling chambers in said type characters, the chambers of the type characters being round, and said bar being half-round in cross-sectional form to seat in the lower half of the chambers in the type characters.

5. A stamp device comprising a channelled body, a casing yieldably supported in the channel of said body, the casing including end walls at end portions of the body, upper edges of said end walls having alined sup porting sockets, a type unit attachable and detachable with respect to the casing, said unit comprising an elongated bar, a plurality of type characters positioned on the bar, the bar ends seating in the sockets in the end walls of said casing in support of the unit in the casing with the type characters projecting beyond upper limits of the casing, means detachably supporting the end portions of the casing and the bar supported thereon for retaining the bar unit in fixed positioned on the casing, said last named means comprising members urging the bar unit downwardly in tensionally supporting inner surfaces of the type characters upon the bottom wall of the casing, the bar of said unit seating in and partially filling chambers in said type characters, the chambers of the type characters being round, said bar being halfround in cross-sectional form to seat in the lower half of the chambers in the type characters, and said members and casing having interengaging means retaining said members against accidental displacement from the casing ends.

6. A stamp device comprising a channelled body, a casing yieldably supported in the channel of said body, the casing including end walls at end portions of the body, upper edges of said end walls having alined supporting sockets, a type unit attachable and detachable with respect to the casing, said unit comprising an elongated bar, a plurality of type characters positioned on the bar, the bar ends seating in the sockets in the end walls of said casing in support of the unit in the casing with the type characters projecting beyond upper limits of the easing, means detachably supporting the end portions of the casing and the bar supported thereon for retaining the bar unit in fixed position on the casing, said last named means comprising members urging the bar unit downwardly in tensionally supporting inner surfaces of the type characters upon the bottom wall of the casing, the bar of said unit seating in and partially filling chambers in said type characters, the chambers of the type characters being round, said bar being half-round in crosssectional form to seat in the lower half of the chambers in the type characters, said members and casing having interengaging means retaining said members against accidental displacement from the casing ends, and the yieldable support of the casing in said body comprising a resilient pad having ends terminating short of the ends of said body and casing.

7. In stamp devices of the character described, an elongated casing defined by bottom, side and end walls, the end walls of the casing having, in the upper surfaces thereof, sockets, a type unit comprising an elongated bar having a plurality of type characters threaded thereon, the bar passing through chambers in said type characters, the bar ends seating in the sockets of said end walls and means mounted on end portions of the casing engaging and asserting downward pressure on said bar to yieldably urge lower surfaces of the type characters in engagement with the bottom wall of the casing in firmly and definitely positioning the characters on the bar and in predetermined position in the casing.

8. In stamp devices of the character described, an elongated casing defined by bottom, side and end walls, the end walls of the casing having, in the upper surfaces thereof, sockets, a type unit comprising an elongated bar having a plurality of type characters threaded thereon, the bar passing through chambers in said type characters, the bar ends seating in the sockets of said end walls means mounted on end portions of the casing engaging and asserting downward pressure on said bar to yieldably urge lower surfaces of the type characters in engagement with the bottom wall of the casing in firmly and definitely positioning the characters on the bar and in predetermined position in the casing, and means yieldably retaining said last named means against displacement from the casing ends.

9. In stamp devices of the character described, an elongated casing defined by bottom, side and end walls, the end walls of the casing having, in the upper surfaces thereof, sockets, a type unit comprising an elongated bar having a plurality of type characters threaded thereon, the bar passing through chambers in said type characters, the bar ends seating in the sockets of said end walls means mounted on end portions of the casing engaging and asserting downward pressure on said bar to yieldably urge lower surfaces of the type characters in engagement with the bottom wall of the casing in firmly and definitely positioning the characters on the bar and in predetermined position in the casing, means yieldably retaining said last named means against displacement from the casing ends, and means on the lower surface of the bottom wall of said casing for yieldably mounting the casing in connection with a support.

10. In stamp devices of the character described, an elongated casing defined by bottom, side and end walls, the end walls of the casing having, in the upper surfaces thereof, sockets, a type unit comprising an elongated bar having a plurality of type characters threaded thereon, the bar passing through chambers in said type characters, the bar ends seating in the sockets of said end walls means mounted on end portions of the casing engaging and asserting downward pressure on said bar to yieldably urge lower surfaces of the type characters in engagement with the bottom wall of the casing in firmly and definitely positioning the characters on the bar and in predetermined position in the casing, and means, at one end only of the bar, for definitely positioning the bar in connection with one end of the casing.

11. In stamp devices of the character described, an elongated casing defined by bottom, side and end walls, the end walls of the casing having, in the upper surfaces thereof, sockets, a type unit comprising an elongated bar having a plurality of type characters threaded thereon, the bar passing through chambers in said type characters, the bar ends seating in the sockets of said end walls means mounted on end portions of the casing engaging and asserting downward pressure on said bar to yieldably urge lower surfaces of the type characters in engagement with the bottom wall of the casing in firmly and definitely positioning the characters on the bar and in predetermined position in the casing, the bar fitting snugly in lower portions only of the chambers of said type characters, leaving spaces in the chambers between the upper surface of the bar and the outer surfaces of the type characters.

12. In stamp devices of the character described, an elongated casing defined by bottom, side and end Walls, the end walls of the casing having a plurality of sockets, type units each comprising an elongated bar having a plurality of type characters threaded thereon, the bar passing through chambers in the type characters, the ends at each bar seating in the sockets of said end walls and means mounted on end portions of the casing engaging and asserting downward pressure on said bars to yieldably urge lower surfaces of the type characters of each unit in engagement with the bottom wall of the casing in firmly and definitely positioning the characters on the bars and in predetermined position in the casing and with respect to each other.

13. In stamp devices of the character described, an elongated casing defined by bottom, side and end walls, the end walls of the casing having a plurality of sockets, type units each comprising an elongated bar having a plurality of type characters threaded thereon, the bar passing through chambers in the type characters, the ends at each bar seating in the sockets of said end walls means mounted on end portions of the casing engaging and asserting downward pressure on said bars to yieldably urge lower surfaces of the type characters of each unit in engagement with the bottom wall of the casing in firmly and definitely positioning the characters on the bars and in predetermined position in the casing and with respect to each other, the spacing of the bars of the units in the casing being such as to dispose type characters of adjacent units in abutting relationship to each other when arranged in the casing, said last named means comprising U-shaped clips, and interengaging means between the clips and the casing for retaining said clips against accidental displacement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 613,721 Rentschler Nov. 8, 1898 927,873 Reynolds July 13, 1909 2,030,044 Beghetti Feb. 11, 1936 2,176,160 Uhl Oct. 17, 1939 

